Kevin Pietersen reignited his long-running feud with Sir Alastair Prepare dinner over his former England team-mate’s criticisms of Jacob Bethell travelling to participate within the Indian Premier League.
Bethell has been unused by Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Prepare dinner urged the teenager to return to Warwickshire to play county cricket as a substitute of ‘sitting on his a*** on the IPL not doing something’.
Pietersen, who was banished from the England set-up when Prepare dinner was captain after the 2013-14 Ashes, argued that the previous left-handed opener’s lack of IPL expertise means his judgement is irrelevant.
‘Alastair Prepare dinner has completely NO IDEA what it’s prefer to be within the IPL,’ Pietersen wrote on X. ‘What it’s prefer to at all times be round one of the best gamers on this planet.
‘So his opinion on Jacob Bethell doesn’t matter in any respect. Keep in India, Jacob. I do know, despite the fact that you’re not taking part in, you’re studying and might be a approach higher participant.’
Bethell has had a breakout previous few months to determine himself in England’s top-order throughout all three codecs following tons of within the Ashes in Sydney and the T20 World Cup semi-final in opposition to India.
Jacob Bethell has not batted or bowled for Royal Challengers, that includes solely as a sub fielder
Whereas he has been sat on the sidelines for all of RCB’s first six matches, Bethell, who’s incomes round £250,000 from his deal, defended being on the IPL reasonably than taking part in home cricket at Edgbaston.
‘I firmly consider that that is the factor for me to be doing proper now,’ he informed the Sky Cricket podcast.
‘I really feel higher now than I used to be a month in the past after the World Cup, simply from getting time across the guys over right here and the pure commonplace of cricket in India and the IPL.
‘Each nets session, you’ve obtained tons of of eyes on you, be it your coaches or the opposite gamers who’re additionally you, going, “Is that this man good? Is he not?” You’ve obtained the folks within the crowd with their telephones on. You get uncovered to a variety of stuff.’
Bethell’s 154 from No3 in January on the finish of England’s depressing tour of Australia means he must be within the XI for the primary Check of the summer season in opposition to New Zealand at Lord’s in June.
Kevin Pietersen (left) and Alastair Prepare dinner on the 2013-14 Ashes tour, after which Pietersen was banished from the England facet
He has been linked with transferring as much as open, the place he has batted in white-ball cricket, if England discard Zak Crawley, which may result in Somerset’s James Rew being chosen within the middle-order.
Bethell admitted he would favor to remain at No3 however would do no matter he’s informed – referencing Joe Root being moved to opener to accommodate a returning Pietersen forward of the 2013 Ashes.
‘I’d love to remain at three, if it’s as much as me. I actually just like the place,’ Bethell added. ‘I don’t assume there’s a large distinction between three and the highest.
‘Somebody like Rooty needed to begin opening the batting after which sort of sit again down into No 4. So if that’s what they need me to do, I’d be very happy to do it.
‘However, I like three and I’d like to cement that spot as mine if doable.’
